Four years later

I still have yet to make it to the Tohoku region and comment on what the state of recovery is like, nor can I ever compare it to what it was like beforehand, but there are still reminders throughout Japan of the earthquake and tsunami.

My favorite is one I have no photo of, but see quite often. Along the north banks of Lake Shinji on the road to western Matsue and to Izumo, there is a very large sign that spans the length of several fishing boats that says “You can do it, Tohoku.”

がんばれ、東北。

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4 Responses to “Four years later”

I still haven’t made it up to Tohoku either, but I’d really like to at some point. I confess I’d completely forgotten about today until the siren went off and the whole school immediately shut up, but the lead-up is basically impossible to miss, so the region has been in my thoughts a lot over the last few days.

I just returned to Australia from the Disaster Risk Reduction conference in Sendai, and attending an event in Rikuzentakata. And at that event emotional stories of loss and survival from 3.11 were predominant. I was really interested in the extensive and structured story-telling in place, so that the experience of the event will not be lost.

On 3.11 I attended the Kakunodate Fire Department and shared the 2:46 time of silent prayer and reflection with those folk.

I am confident the immense losses from 3.11 are not forgotten. I was most impressed by the extent of NPO involvement in continuing recovery activities and now also in preparation.